Monthly Archives: May 2015

I am of two opinions regarding Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season finale. My initial opinion, buoyed by the action, was one of “holy shit!”. However, after contemplating the finale over the course of the night and morning, my opinion has changed to one of “this is terrible.” This change may even be enough to make me question whether or not I want to return for a third season.

The biggest problem I have with “S.O.S. Parts One and Two” lies with the character of Jiaying. When she first appeared, she gave off the appearance of being a strong and caring mother figure for generations of Inhumans. But with the final three episodes, she becomes more and more the love child of Magneto and Selene. Her personality changes so radically and drastically, with so little foreshadowing, that one wonders what the show writers were smoking.

I understand why Jiaying is made an ever increasingly more monstrous villain. It is the only way of keeping Skye/ Daisy in S.H.I.E.L.D. and not joining the Inhumans. It is still an example of terrible storytelling.

Rather than the simplistic good S.H.I.E.L.D vs. evil Jiaying and her misled Inhumans we get (mind you the two S.H.I.E.L.D.s story arc has the exact same problem), why not craft a more nuanced and problematic conflict?

The B plot is marginally better than the A plot. My only problem is that Ward is still alive. The show really needs to move on from him. Ward is no Angel. Nor is he Spike. It is time to move on.

Will I be back for season three? I don’t know. I didn’t care for the first season until the HYDRA arc at the end of the season. I’ve watched the whole second season and feel incredibly let down. In the end, I’ll see if I care enough to keep watching.